Increased crime - why you need to be streetwise for your own safety as well for your children.

Recently, a near tragic incident occurred in Nairobi that has left me worried about our safety as the adult city dwellers, as well as for the wellbeing of our children.

Apart from paying school fees in that prestigious school, paying for his or her lunch and transport, as a parent, there is much you can do in order to safeguard your child.

Let your child move with others while going or leaving school. If using school transport, the child can board the school bus with a colleague, a teacher, house girl or you, if possible and within the learning institution.

However , if you have a personal car, please pick your child from the school, at the designated time, and ensure the school management knows well, or someone you may send is a close relative.

Inform the child to avoid greeting or talking to strangers, on his way, and raise an alarm in case someone touches him or her inappropriately or if he or she feels dizzy, after a brief contact with a stranger. No lifts from strangers even if they seem to be knowing the child's name and the family. As long as they are strangers, NO!

In the plot or estate, ensure you always know, where is your child and whom he or is playing with and keep an eye to ensure he doesn't stay late and they should avoid eating and drinking anywhere or accepting gifts and foodstuffs from strangers.

As an adult, you need to take almost similar precautions. Never accept food or drinks from strangers. Avoid free lifts in empty matatus and strange cars. As you walk in the streets, avoid close contact with your fellow pedestrians and always shield your face, from sudden touches by people you meet especially in busy sidewalks.

 Recently, a standard eight pupil from a renowned school within Westlands area was touched at the nose by a stranger while ready to board a matatu, en route to his home. He immediately lost consciousness and was supported by his colleagues and adults in the vehicle he was about to board. Although he didn't pass out, he had a headache and unending sleep for close to seventy-two hours.

No doubt, the boy was drugged, but the level of the substance was negligible. He would have died or lost memory. If he was alone, the perpetrator would have kidnapped him. Stories of gangsters demanding ransom or of unidentified dumped bodies with some parts missing, are not new in Kenya. The criminals are daring, ruthless devising new tricks day by day. Be watchful, take care, for your safety and family. Also be your brother's keeper.

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